Hi there,

There's one question every practice owner wants to ask and most are too polite to. How much should I be paying my accountant?

I'm a chartered accountant, and I also run dental practices myself. So the questions you've got about your accounts are ones I've had to answer for my own business too. In my recent YouTube video I answer the eight questions I get asked most. No sales pitch, just straight answers.

A few highlights.

A good dental accountant isn't priced like a generic high street firm, because the work isn't the same. You're paying for someone who understands practice profitability, associate pay, NHS versus private income, and buying or selling a practice. Ongoing support usually sits in a monthly range rather than a one off annual fee, and where you land depends on your size and how much advice you want.

Do you really need a specialist? An ordinary accountant can file your accounts. But dentistry has its quirks: the NHS and private mix, associate pay, superannuation, how practices are valued. If your accountant doesn't live in that world, you end up explaining it to them and paying for the privilege.

When should you switch? Not necessarily at year end. A good firm handles the handover for you. The real answer is that the time to switch is when you only hear from your accountant when something is due. If they're purely reactive, you're overpaying whatever the fee.

And the one that matters most: can they help you grow, or just keep you compliant? Filing on time and staying the right side of HMRC is the floor. It's expected, not impressive. The real value is whether you're more profitable and making better decisions.

I also cover what to have ready before your first conversation (less than you think), who actually does your work, and how technology and AI should be handled when patient data, GDC and ICO obligations are involved.

Watch: Dental Accountant Fees, The Questions Every Practice Owner Asks

The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest outcome. Watch this before you sign with anyone, including us.

If straight answers are your thing, subscribe to the channel so you don't miss the next one.

Speak soon,
Arun Mehra